TSTBL: Toledo Does It Again!

Driver 8 · 02-19-2003, 10:33 PM

Toledo (AP) - Following a season in which they won a then league record 114 games, only to get swept in the divisional playoffs proved crucial in the motivation for Toledo to once again return to World Series glory.

While their 109 wins in 2005 went a long way in proving that their 2004 success was no fluke, they had to get past the 124-win Portland Beavers in this year's Series as both teams attempted to become the first team with two World Series championships. While neither team is a stranger to postseason success, Toledo's run of three-straight division titles is unprecedented in the league's short history.

Game One (Oct. 12, 2005): In defense of their 2004 title, Portland sent out rookie Bobby Bradley to start game one against Toledo's Chance Capel. Capel, who bounced around several organizations before finding a home in Toledo last season, went 19-4 this season, leading the EL in victories, winning percentage, complete games and shutouts, while holding opposing batters to a .199 average. Bradley, with a 2-3 career record entering the season, burst onto the scene by going 21-5 and leading the WL in wins and strikeouts (259). Toledo managed to stake Capel to a 2-0 lead whtn DH Juan Rivera hit a two-run double in the top of the second. Portland came back in the bottom of the fourth as Michael Preble and Rafael Furcal hit back-to-back solo homers to lead off the inning. In the next inning, Toledo went up for good as Luis Padron slapped a run-scoring single and then was brought home as the next batter, Wilkin Ruan doubled. Up 4-2, Rivera added another run with a solo homer in the sixth off Bradley. A meaningless run by Portland in the bottom of the ninth completed the scoring in Toledo's 5-3 victory in game one.

Game Two (Oct. 13, 2005): In game two, Toledo's 2004 Most Valuable Pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez would face Portland's Shawn Chacon. Although Rodriguez "slumped" from 22-7 in his award-winning season to 17-8 this past season, his statistics held steady across with board, with the exception of strikeouts. He went from fanning 8.1 per 9 innings in '04 to 10.4 this season. Chacon (21-5, 4.24), a 20 game winner for the first time, tied Bradley for the league-lead in wins. Like game one, Toledo jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, this time on the strength of a 2-run homer by Corey Patterson in the top of the first. While Rodriguez and Chacon battled, Portland was able to get back into the game by scratching across lone tallies in the fourth and fifth innings. In the sixth, Toledo bounced back up by two following a lead-off homer by Wilkin Ruan and sac fly by Hee Seop Choi. The Mudhens added two insurance runs in the top of the eighth, which were needed as J.R. House added a run-scoring single and then Jose Ortiz scored on an Cristian Guzman error in the bottom of the frame to account for the final 6-4 score, as Toledo took a 2-0 lead in the series.

Game Three (Oct. 15, 2005): After being stung by losing the first two games of the series in their home park, the Beavers ran playoff hero Javier Vazquez to the mound in game three. Although he only allowed four hits over six innings, a second-inning two-run homer by Hee Seop Choi provided more than enough runs for Toledo starter Carlos Hernandez on this day. Hernandez and Jesus Colome combined on a 6-hitter, blanking Portland 7-0, to give the Mudhens a commanding 3-0 lead in the series.

Game Four (Oct. 16, 2005): With a capacity crowd on hand, Toledo and starter Capel hosted Portland and Bradley, a rematch of the series' opening game. In the top of the second, a double by Roberto Ortiz and a Tommy Aurand single both produced a run to give the Beavers a 2-0 lead. Toledo came right back in their half of the inning on a sac fly by Rivera and a solo shot by Choi. With Capel and Bradley batting, Toledo managed to eke out a run in the 4th, on a single by Luis Padron, to take a 3-2 lead, which held until the 6th. In the top of that frame, Jose Ortiz followed Roberto Ortiz' walk with a homerun to left-center to put the Beavers back up by a run. Portland added two more runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to complete the 7-3, extending their life another day.

Game Five (Oct. 17, 2005): In a rematch of game two, Chacon and Rodriguez again hooked up in what would become of the more interesting games in TSTBL's short World Series history. After Rodriguez allowed a pair of hits in the top of the first, but escaped with no runs, Toledo lead-off hitter Luis Padron left off the bottom of the first with a bunt single that Portland 3B Roberto Ortiz could not field and heave to first on time. Two batters later, Toledo catcher Stephen Wilcoxson hit into a fielder's choice for the second out. Corey Patterson followed with a long drive, hit like a frozen rope, that bounced off the base of the rightfield wall. Hit as hard as it was, Patterson was a sitting duck as he rounded third, but had the presence of mind to get caught in a rundown, allowing a heads-up Wilcoxson to cross the plate with the first run of the game. Toledo roughed up Chacon in the bottom of the second as a sac fly and 2-run triple by Cristian Guzman gave the Mudhens a 4-0 lead and added hope to the Toledo faithful that the home team would clinch the World Series at home. A fielder's choice in the top of the third by Rafael Furcal scored Abraham Nunez, getting the Beavers on the board. With Chacon refocused, Portland chiseled away at the Mudhens lead with a tally in the fifth on a solo homer by Nunez to cut the score to 4-2. In the top of the sixth, Garrett Atkins singled off Ricardo Rodriguez to lead off the inning, which was followed by a walk to Roberto Ortiz. Rodriguez bounced his first pitch to Jose Ortiz to the backstop, advancing both runners. With the hit and run on, Jose Ortiz looped a flair into left-center, scoring both runners to tie the game at four apiece. Not backing down from pressure, Toledo came right back in their half of the sixth with a run provided by a solo homer by Juan Rivera. Both teams traded goose eggs for the next two innings, with time running our for the Beavers. With All-Star closer Byung-Hyun Kim on the mound to start the ninth, the Mudhens held a 5-4 lead. Kim walked leadoff hitter Tommy Aurand, bringing pinch-hitter Ben Broussard to the plate, who hit a flair to left that put two runners on with no outs. With Kim working to keep the runners close, Michael Preble drove Kim's 1-1 pitch to the wall in rightfield, scoring both runners and giving the Beavers a 6-4 lead. Hot hitting Rafael Furcal was then intentionally walked to set-up a double play. As if on cue, the next batter, Albert Pujols, tapped back to Kim who eyed the runner at third before spinning and and throwing to second to start the double play. As the throw came from Kim to shortstop Cristian Guzman, the speedy Preble broke to the plate and score without a throw as the defense completed the double play. The bases were empty, with two outs, and Portland held a 7-5 lead. Garrett Atkins, the next hitter, promptly deposited a Kim offering in the rightfield seats to put the Beavers up 8-5 before Kim got Roberto Ortiz looking to end the inning. With the Beavers seemingly clicking on all cylinders for the first time in the series, the team was able to avoid disaster in the bottom of the ninth...barely. With closer Kelvim Escobar on the mound, Guzman and Padron both walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth. With Wilkin Ruan at the plate the runners bolted in a double-steal, with both sliding in safely to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Escobar walked Ruan intentionally to load the bases for Wilcoxson. Averting disaster, Escobar was able to get Wilcoxson out on a liner to Furcal at short, followed by a soft fly out to Aurand in left. Jorge Padilla, the next batter, then lined a single left scoring Guzman and Padron, closing the gap to 8-7. An intentional walk to Juan Rivera loaded the bases for Choi, who was retired on a soft fly-out to Preble to end the game and send the series back to Portland for a sixth game, with Toledo up three games to two.

Game Six (Oct. 19, 2005): Despite a tough-luck loss in game three, the Beavers turned to their hottest pitcher, Javier Vazquez, in an attempt to even the series and force a game seven showdown. As in game three, Vazquez would have to go against Hernandez, who pitched brilliantly in their previous contest. With a full-house in the stands, Vazquez was rudely greeted by a solo homerun by Luis Padron on the second pitch of the game. While Hernandez was rolling, the Mudhens touched Vazquez for a pair of runs in the fourth to go up 3-0. While Portland was able to manufacture a run in the fifth to close the gap to 3-1, the Beavers appeared visibly defeated when the Mudhens sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs and all but put the game out of reach with a 6-1 lead. Toledo added another run in the top of the seventh, while Portland added a single tally in the bottom of the either to make it 7-2, the final score, giving Toledo their second World Series title in three seasons.

After allowing just two runs in 15 innings over two starts, both resulting in wins, Carlos Hernandez was named the series MVP.

The TSTBL is in the free agency period preceding their fifth season, 2006. The league began (real time) August 2, 2002 with 20 rosters full of major leaguers and prospects who were under the age of 26 as of April 1, 2002. A huge public thanks to our 20 owners whose committment has resulted in an 88.5% roster submittal rate with no managerial turnover in 2 seasons!

darkhorse · 02-19-2003, 10:45 PM

Great write-up. The TSTBL is a fine league. Rid yourself of that flaky Durham GM and it will be all good.

JML · 02-19-2003, 10:49 PM

What's your secret? My Mudhens are pathetic... but years of high picks have me on the verge...

You better hope someone's watching yer ass, DD!

Driver 8 · 02-19-2003, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by darkhorse
Great write-up. The TSTBL is a fine league. Rid yourself of that flaky Durham GM and it will be all good.

Thanks a lot, the league owes a lot to the great owners we've been lucky to find and retain. Running this league and my other teams keep my days full, but after every live sim I wonder about how much fun I could have being an owner in this league and getting to compete against some of these great guys.

As far as Zach, we're on our third domain, but he keeps finding us like that dog that made his way from California to his home in Ohio. Seriously, he's done a great job in helping reverse the fortunes of a very poor Bulls team he inherited. We're lucky to have him here.

Driver 8 · 02-19-2003, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by JML
What's your secret? My Mudhens are pathetic... but years of high picks have me on the verge...

You better hope someone's watching yer ass, DD!

Our Toledo owner (Aaron Bacon) made some nice draft decisions early on and has been able to retain key vets desite a tight salary cap. He was able to win in 2004 despite having to compete with three other teams in his division win 90 games that season.

The league has plans for expansion in two more seasons to grow to 22 teams. Two seasons after that we'll add two more to expand to 6 divisions and a wild card format. With the cap becoming tighter as the league progresses we hope to see more parity and see if we can make it a little tougher for Mr. Bacon, although he's proven that he'll be up for the challenge.

bacon21 · 02-20-2003, 08:57 PM

Being that Toledo GM, I am ready for the challenge. If only getting rid of that pesky Kim would be as easy as winning 100 games

02-19-2003, 10:33 PM	#1
Driver 8 Major Leagues Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: gurnee, il Posts: 397	TSTBL: Toledo Does It Again! Toledo (AP) - Following a season in which they won a then league record 114 games, only to get swept in the divisional playoffs proved crucial in the motivation for Toledo to once again return to World Series glory. While their 109 wins in 2005 went a long way in proving that their 2004 success was no fluke, they had to get past the 124-win Portland Beavers in this year's Series as both teams attempted to become the first team with two World Series championships. While neither team is a stranger to postseason success, Toledo's run of three-straight division titles is unprecedented in the league's short history. Game One (Oct. 12, 2005): In defense of their 2004 title, Portland sent out rookie Bobby Bradley to start game one against Toledo's Chance Capel. Capel, who bounced around several organizations before finding a home in Toledo last season, went 19-4 this season, leading the EL in victories, winning percentage, complete games and shutouts, while holding opposing batters to a .199 average. Bradley, with a 2-3 career record entering the season, burst onto the scene by going 21-5 and leading the WL in wins and strikeouts (259). Toledo managed to stake Capel to a 2-0 lead whtn DH Juan Rivera hit a two-run double in the top of the second. Portland came back in the bottom of the fourth as Michael Preble and Rafael Furcal hit back-to-back solo homers to lead off the inning. In the next inning, Toledo went up for good as Luis Padron slapped a run-scoring single and then was brought home as the next batter, Wilkin Ruan doubled. Up 4-2, Rivera added another run with a solo homer in the sixth off Bradley. A meaningless run by Portland in the bottom of the ninth completed the scoring in Toledo's 5-3 victory in game one. Game Two (Oct. 13, 2005): In game two, Toledo's 2004 Most Valuable Pitcher Ricardo Rodriguez would face Portland's Shawn Chacon. Although Rodriguez "slumped" from 22-7 in his award-winning season to 17-8 this past season, his statistics held steady across with board, with the exception of strikeouts. He went from fanning 8.1 per 9 innings in '04 to 10.4 this season. Chacon (21-5, 4.24), a 20 game winner for the first time, tied Bradley for the league-lead in wins. Like game one, Toledo jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead, this time on the strength of a 2-run homer by Corey Patterson in the top of the first. While Rodriguez and Chacon battled, Portland was able to get back into the game by scratching across lone tallies in the fourth and fifth innings. In the sixth, Toledo bounced back up by two following a lead-off homer by Wilkin Ruan and sac fly by Hee Seop Choi. The Mudhens added two insurance runs in the top of the eighth, which were needed as J.R. House added a run-scoring single and then Jose Ortiz scored on an Cristian Guzman error in the bottom of the frame to account for the final 6-4 score, as Toledo took a 2-0 lead in the series. Game Three (Oct. 15, 2005): After being stung by losing the first two games of the series in their home park, the Beavers ran playoff hero Javier Vazquez to the mound in game three. Although he only allowed four hits over six innings, a second-inning two-run homer by Hee Seop Choi provided more than enough runs for Toledo starter Carlos Hernandez on this day. Hernandez and Jesus Colome combined on a 6-hitter, blanking Portland 7-0, to give the Mudhens a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Game Four (Oct. 16, 2005): With a capacity crowd on hand, Toledo and starter Capel hosted Portland and Bradley, a rematch of the series' opening game. In the top of the second, a double by Roberto Ortiz and a Tommy Aurand single both produced a run to give the Beavers a 2-0 lead. Toledo came right back in their half of the inning on a sac fly by Rivera and a solo shot by Choi. With Capel and Bradley batting, Toledo managed to eke out a run in the 4th, on a single by Luis Padron, to take a 3-2 lead, which held until the 6th. In the top of that frame, Jose Ortiz followed Roberto Ortiz' walk with a homerun to left-center to put the Beavers back up by a run. Portland added two more runs in the eighth and one in the ninth to complete the 7-3, extending their life another day. Game Five (Oct. 17, 2005): In a rematch of game two, Chacon and Rodriguez again hooked up in what would become of the more interesting games in TSTBL's short World Series history. After Rodriguez allowed a pair of hits in the top of the first, but escaped with no runs, Toledo lead-off hitter Luis Padron left off the bottom of the first with a bunt single that Portland 3B Roberto Ortiz could not field and heave to first on time. Two batters later, Toledo catcher Stephen Wilcoxson hit into a fielder's choice for the second out. Corey Patterson followed with a long drive, hit like a frozen rope, that bounced off the base of the rightfield wall. Hit as hard as it was, Patterson was a sitting duck as he rounded third, but had the presence of mind to get caught in a rundown, allowing a heads-up Wilcoxson to cross the plate with the first run of the game. Toledo roughed up Chacon in the bottom of the second as a sac fly and 2-run triple by Cristian Guzman gave the Mudhens a 4-0 lead and added hope to the Toledo faithful that the home team would clinch the World Series at home. A fielder's choice in the top of the third by Rafael Furcal scored Abraham Nunez, getting the Beavers on the board. With Chacon refocused, Portland chiseled away at the Mudhens lead with a tally in the fifth on a solo homer by Nunez to cut the score to 4-2. In the top of the sixth, Garrett Atkins singled off Ricardo Rodriguez to lead off the inning, which was followed by a walk to Roberto Ortiz. Rodriguez bounced his first pitch to Jose Ortiz to the backstop, advancing both runners. With the hit and run on, Jose Ortiz looped a flair into left-center, scoring both runners to tie the game at four apiece. Not backing down from pressure, Toledo came right back in their half of the sixth with a run provided by a solo homer by Juan Rivera. Both teams traded goose eggs for the next two innings, with time running our for the Beavers. With All-Star closer Byung-Hyun Kim on the mound to start the ninth, the Mudhens held a 5-4 lead. Kim walked leadoff hitter Tommy Aurand, bringing pinch-hitter Ben Broussard to the plate, who hit a flair to left that put two runners on with no outs. With Kim working to keep the runners close, Michael Preble drove Kim's 1-1 pitch to the wall in rightfield, scoring both runners and giving the Beavers a 6-4 lead. Hot hitting Rafael Furcal was then intentionally walked to set-up a double play. As if on cue, the next batter, Albert Pujols, tapped back to Kim who eyed the runner at third before spinning and and throwing to second to start the double play. As the throw came from Kim to shortstop Cristian Guzman, the speedy Preble broke to the plate and score without a throw as the defense completed the double play. The bases were empty, with two outs, and Portland held a 7-5 lead. Garrett Atkins, the next hitter, promptly deposited a Kim offering in the rightfield seats to put the Beavers up 8-5 before Kim got Roberto Ortiz looking to end the inning. With the Beavers seemingly clicking on all cylinders for the first time in the series, the team was able to avoid disaster in the bottom of the ninth...barely. With closer Kelvim Escobar on the mound, Guzman and Padron both walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth. With Wilkin Ruan at the plate the runners bolted in a double-steal, with both sliding in safely to put a pair of runners in scoring position. Escobar walked Ruan intentionally to load the bases for Wilcoxson. Averting disaster, Escobar was able to get Wilcoxson out on a liner to Furcal at short, followed by a soft fly out to Aurand in left. Jorge Padilla, the next batter, then lined a single left scoring Guzman and Padron, closing the gap to 8-7. An intentional walk to Juan Rivera loaded the bases for Choi, who was retired on a soft fly-out to Preble to end the game and send the series back to Portland for a sixth game, with Toledo up three games to two. Game Six (Oct. 19, 2005): Despite a tough-luck loss in game three, the Beavers turned to their hottest pitcher, Javier Vazquez, in an attempt to even the series and force a game seven showdown. As in game three, Vazquez would have to go against Hernandez, who pitched brilliantly in their previous contest. With a full-house in the stands, Vazquez was rudely greeted by a solo homerun by Luis Padron on the second pitch of the game. While Hernandez was rolling, the Mudhens touched Vazquez for a pair of runs in the fourth to go up 3-0. While Portland was able to manufacture a run in the fifth to close the gap to 3-1, the Beavers appeared visibly defeated when the Mudhens sent eight batters to the plate in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs and all but put the game out of reach with a 6-1 lead. Toledo added another run in the top of the seventh, while Portland added a single tally in the bottom of the either to make it 7-2, the final score, giving Toledo their second World Series title in three seasons. After allowing just two runs in 15 innings over two starts, both resulting in wins, Carlos Hernandez was named the series MVP. The TSTBL is in the free agency period preceding their fifth season, 2006. The league began (real time) August 2, 2002 with 20 rosters full of major leaguers and prospects who were under the age of 26 as of April 1, 2002. A huge public thanks to our 20 owners whose committment has resulted in an 88.5% roster submittal rate with no managerial turnover in 2 seasons!

02-19-2003, 10:45 PM	#2
darkhorse Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2002 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 10,850	Great write-up. The TSTBL is a fine league. Rid yourself of that flaky Durham GM and it will be all good. __________________ "The Human Torch was denied a bank loan."

02-20-2003, 08:57 PM	#6
bacon21 Minors (Triple A) Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Minnesota Posts: 210	TOLEDO Being that Toledo GM, I am ready for the challenge. If only getting rid of that pesky Kim would be as easy as winning 100 games

02-19-2003, 10:49 PM	#3
JML Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The act or process of locating. Posts: 2,154	What's your secret? My Mudhens are pathetic... but years of high picks have me on the verge... You better hope someone's watching yer ass, DD!